Abstract

Nationalism and multiculturalism are often perceived as polar opposites with
the former viewed as the disease and the latter the cure. Contrary to this view,
this article argues that a strong national identity, albeit of a particular kind, is
prerequisite to a stable and functioning multicultural society. The article seeks to
identify both the causes and the implications of the absence of an overarching,
civic national identity in Britain, further to the goal of seeking a meaningful
solution. It is our contention that the problem lies in the difficulty involved in
reconciling current pressures on British identity with a coherent narrative of
British history, especially its imperial past.